Fri Mar 28 06:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Waymo’s Self-Driving Cars Involved in Dozens of Crashes, But Mostly Not at Fault: Report
**San Francisco, CA** – A new analysis of Waymo’s safety data reveals that while the company’s self-driving vehicles have been involved in dozens of crashes, the vast majority were not Waymo’s fault. The analysis, covering crashes from July 2024 to February 2025, shows that out of 38 serious incidents, only one was definitively attributed to Waymo’s autonomous system. Three others remain under investigation, with the remaining 34 appearing to be caused by other drivers.
The report highlights two significant crashes. The first, a fatal six-car pileup in January, involved a stationary Waymo vehicle that was rear-ended at high speed by a human-driven SUV. A second serious incident in October saw a human driver cross a double yellow line, causing a collision that impacted the Waymo.
Despite these incidents, the analysis suggests Waymo’s autonomous driving technology is significantly safer than human drivers. Comparing 44 million miles driven in Phoenix and San Francisco, Waymo’s vehicles experienced 83% fewer airbag deployments and 81% fewer injury-causing crashes compared to estimated human driver rates for the same areas. A separate study co-authored with Swiss Re, analyzing insurance claims through July 2024, showed an even more dramatic reduction in both bodily injury and property damage claims.
While Waymo’s autonomous driving service is expanding, leading to inevitable future incidents, the data suggests that the company’s technology is substantially improving road safety. The report emphasizes the importance of considering the vast mileage driven by Waymo’s vehicles when assessing the frequency and severity of these incidents. The full report is available [link to original article].
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